Defense Budget Alert

The Pentagon's fiscal year 2021 budget request would increase funding the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center as it begins the development and fielding of AI applications for warfighting operations, according to the center's director.

The Air Force’s fiscal year 2021 budget request doesn't project the service will meet its optimum fighter aircraft procurement rate of 72 aircraft within the next five years, showing a stagnant F-35 buy-rate of 48 aircraft per year and a gradual increase in F-15EX procurement.

The Navy plans to purchase fewer battleforce ships in the next five years because that's what it can afford to buy with a flattening defense topline, according to a top service official.

The Navy plans to retire four Littoral Combat Ships and one Dock Landing Ship early in fiscal year 2021 as the service seeks to keep up with the new National Defense Strategy.

The Air Force's $168.9 billion fiscal year 2021 budget request proposes a $4.1 billion realignment across the future years defense program to fund increases in future air and space dominance capabilities through cuts to legacy bombers and tankers, Block 20 and 30 Global Hawks, Guard and Reserve Component A-10s and planned missile procurements.

The Pentagon is proposing a major reconfiguration of plans to protect the nation from North Korean ballistic missiles by starting a new Next Generation Interceptor program while simultaneously adding two "layers" beneath the current defense shield -- a new Terminal High Altitude Area Defense homeland defense capability to work in concert with the Standard Missile-3 Block IIA.

The Defense Department is proposing a spending increase in fiscal year 2021 for developmental technologies to prepare for 21st century competitions with China and Russia, but that new boost is coming amid a flat budget and at the expense of existing weapon systems, according to a summary of DOD’s request to Congress reviewed by Inside Defense.
 

An internal review has found $5.7 billion in fiscal year 2021 budget cuts the Pentagon wants to reinvest in emerging technologies like hypersonics, space, missile defense and artificial intelligence, according to a report slated to be delivered to Congress.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper called on Congress today to take a "leap" and support the Pentagon's plans to divest legacy weapon systems so new investments can be made in emerging technologies.